Ice creeper



Dec. 18, 1951 G. F. F ISHER ICE CREEPER Filed Feb. 20, 1951 INVENTOR. Gmrnumfi fifisHER Patented Dec. 18, 1951 UNITED STAT ICE CREEPER Gertrude F. Fisher, Williamsport, Pa.;

Elizabeth Fage Berry,

Fage Steinhelper,

Louise and H. Swank Phillips, executors of saidGertrude F. Fisher, deceased, assignors to Company Inc., Williamsport, Pa.,

of Pennsylvania 0. A. N orlund a corporation Application February 20, 1951, Serial No. 211,952 1 Claim. (01. 36-62) The present invention relates to improvements in ice creepers of the detachable strap-fastened type that may with facility be attached to the soles of boots or shoes of the wearer, preferably under the instep portion of the shoe sole, just in front of the heel. The ice creepers, per se, which are reversible and interchangeable, are manufactured in quantities and various sizes for use in pairs, and the duplicate creepers of a pair may readily be strapped upon either the right shoe or the left shoe, with the buckle of the fastening strap at the right side or the left side of the arch of the foot.

When attached firmly in place a pair of the creepers provide and insure effective anti-slipping devices that ,will prevent slipping on snow, ice, or other smooth surfaces; and the calks of the creepers are arranged to prevent slipping when the wearer of the creepers is walking straight ahead as well as for safety against lateral slipping when walking on a hill-side or other inclined surface.

The creepers are of comparatively small size and light weight in order that they may be carried in a pocket or other receptacle when not in use, and preferably they are deformable in order that they may be nested or compactly arranged for mailing, shipping, or storage purposes.

The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts involving reversible and interchangeable steel calk-plates and metallic straps forming holders, for use with fastening straps, as will hereinafter be described and more particularly set forth in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings a complete example of a physical embodiment of the invention, wherein the parts are combined and arranged in accord with one mode thus far. devised for the practical application of the principles of the invention, is illustrated; but it will be understood that changes are contemplated and may be made in the exemplifying drawings and mechanical structures, within the scope of the claim, without departing from the principles of the invention.

Figure 1 is a side view showing a conventional left-foot shoe with one of the creepers strapped thereon.

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a partion of a shoe with the creeper attached.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of one of the creepers, per se, the fastening strap being omitted for convenience of illustration.

Figure 4. is a vertical sectional view at line 4'-4 of Fig. 3; and

' Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view atline 5-5ofFig.3.

As indicated in Fig. 1, a reversible creeper is strapped to the instep portion of the shoe sole in front of the heel, with calks projecting downwardly a suitable distance below the heel, to penetrate a snow-covered surface, an ice surface, or other slippery surface, and this location of the anti-slipping device permits the wearer of the shoe to tip-toe when walking over a floor-covering, or other surface, without contact of the calks.

Inasmuch as the construction and operation of one creeper of a pair is identical with its mate, a description of one creeper will suflice for both of them; and in carrying out the invention a rectangular or oblong sheet steel plate I is fashioned with four integral corner calks as 2, of triangular shape. The sheet metal plate is stamped or pressed into shape with the triangular and pointed calks located in vertical planes forming an obtuse angle with the front and rear parallel longitudinal edges of the plate. By this arrangement of the calks they prevent not only forward or rear slipping, but also lateral or side slipping.

In the operation of pressing or stamping the calk-plate to shape, a pair of transverse slots 3, 3, are fashioned in the body of the plate adjacent its lateral edges, and to economize in material a diamond shape slot 4 may be fashioned in the center of the plate.

For rigidly holding the calk plate against displacement, a fiat metallic strap 5 of resilient and flexible material, as spring steel, is fashioned to form a holder of general U-shape, with its central portion mounted on top of the plate, transversely of the shoe, and with its opposite ends passed downwardly through the slots 3, 3. Beneath the plate the metallic strap is formed with rounded bosses or corner lugs 6, 6, which extend outwardly under the lateral edges of the plate, and from these extend upwardly diverging arms 1, 1. The upper ends of these upright arms are provided with loops 8, 8, that are mounted in sleeves 9, 9 integral with folded clamps l0, l0, that are riveted at H, H, to the upper ends of the arms.

A single fastening strap l2, of leather or fabric and provided with a buckle I3, is threaded down through one of the loops and along the outer face of an arm, then passed transversely of the foot across the under side of the calk plate and its bent corners or bosses two bosses, thence along the outer face of another arm and through the other loop. When the device is fitted to the shoe or boot the two ends of the fastening strap are drawn upwardly over the instepof the-shod toot, and theends of the strap are buckled ztogether .Lin, usual manner. Due to the resiliency of the flexible arms and the use of the fastening strap against the outer faces;

of the arms, the arms of the holder adjust themselves to snugly fit against the opposite sides ofthe instep portion of the shoe .ior firmly holding;

loops, under the plate, and frictionally engaging the bosses and arms for retaining the device in rigid position.

GERTRUDE F. FISHER.

REFERENCES CIT-ED The following references are of record in the "file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 128,370 Dieterichs June 25, 1872 788,302 Bartley Apr. 25, 1905 1,275,917 Herman Aug. 23, 1918 1,277,135 Schemel Aug. 27, 1918 1,513,539 East Oct. 28, 1924 1,596,832 Heinemann Aug. 17, 1926 1,728,783 Chase Sept. 17, 1929 2,296,660 Bowman Sept. 22, 1942 2,401,891 Smith June 11, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date France .Nov. 7,-1941 

